Phlox plant named ‘Nadia’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Nadia’, characterized by its upright plant habit; dark-green colored leaves; freely flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers; and good cut flower and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘NADIA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Nadia’.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination of two unnamed proprietary selections of Phlox paniculata, not patented, in 2002. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands in July, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands since 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Nadia’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Nadia’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Dark-green colored leaves.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Red purple-colored flowers.     -   5. Good cut flower and garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox and the parent selections differ primarily in leaf and flower color.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of Phlox paniculata ‘Starfire’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Starfire’ differed primarily in leaf and flower color as plants of ‘Starfire’ had lighter green-colored leaves and red-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Phlox were shorter than plants of ‘Starfire’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Nadia’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Nadia’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical leaf of ‘Nadia’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Hillegom, The Netherlands, under commercial practice during September in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranging from 4° C. to 16° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Nadia’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Phlox paniculata, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Phlox paniculata, not patented. -   Propagation     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About three weeks at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright plant habit; narrow inverted             triangle; moderately vigorous growth habit; basally             branching habit, about five basal branches per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 47.3 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 30.9 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 29.1 cm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N186B to N186C;             below the nodes, flushed with close to 145B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 8.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Slightly revolute and finely serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N186A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to N186A to N186B.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A;             venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B flushed with close to 200B; venation,             close to 146B to 146C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to N186C. Color, lower surface: Close             to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single rotate and salverform flowers             arranged in compound terminal panicles; flowers face upright             and outward; panicles roughly conical in shape; freely             flowering habit with about 100 flower buds and flowers             developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; sweet and pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from July             through September in The Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the             plant and about ten days as a cut flower; flowers not             persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Color: Close to 71A to 71B;             towards the base, close to between 77A and N186C.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 16.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13.8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Length:             About 3.9 cm. Lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Spatulate.             Apex: Bluntly retuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing petals, upper surface: Darker and more             intense than N57A; throat, close to N79C. Developing petals,             lower surface: Close to N57C; tube, close to N79C. Fully             expanded petals, upper surface: Darker and more intense than             N57A; throat, close to N79C; color does not fade with             development. Fully expanded petals, lower surface: Close to             N57C; tube, close to N79C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; campanulate calyx. Length:             About 9 mm. Width: About 1.7 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing and fully             expanded sepals, upper surface: Close to 147B; towards the             margins, close to N77B. Color, developing and fully expanded             sepals, lower surface: Close to between N77A and N186C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 14.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Angle: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to N186C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 30° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five; fused with petals in throat. Filament length: About             2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 8D. Pollen amount: Scarce to             moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11D. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.1 cm. Stigma shape:             Three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 150D. Style length:             About 1.9 cm. Style color: Close to N186C. Ovary color:             Close to 143A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the Phlox have not been observed     to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −30° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Nadia’ as illustrated and described. 